Silicon Nanowire-Based Solar Cells on Glass: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Cell Parameters

Abstract

Silicon nanowire (SiNW)-based solar cells on glass substrates have been fabricated by wet electroless chemical etching (using silver nitrate and hydrofluoric acid) of 2.7 microm multicrystalline p(+)nn(+) doped silicon layers thereby creating the nanowire structure. Low reflectance (<10%, at 300-800 nm) and a strong broadband optical absorption (>90% at 500 nm) have been measured. The highest open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) and short-circuit current density (J(sc)) for AM1.5 illumination were 450 mV and 40 mA/cm(2), respectively at a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.4%.

Charge injection and trapping in TiO2 nanoparticles decorated silicon nanowires arrays

“…5 Surface dominated transport 6 is important in nanostructures for various device applications. [7][8][9][10] Surface passivation of nanostructures 11 by different organic and inorganic materials has been reported to tailor the sensing, optical, electrical, photodetection, and thermoelectric properties. 7,[12][13][14][15][16] Properties of SiNWs are highly dependent on density of surface states and doping level.…”

Nanorod solar cell with an ultrathin a-Si:H absorber layer

“…͓doi:10.1063/1.3567527͔ To achieve a high energy conversion efficiency, a solar cell must be thick enough for sufficient light absorption, yet it must be thin enough for efficient carrier collection. [1][2][3] Recently, the applications of nanocoax, 1 nanocone, 4,5 nanodome, 6 nanopillar, 7,8 nanorod, 2,3,9-13 and nanowire [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] structures for solar cells have attracted great interest. Compared to the conventional planar thin film counterparts, the nanostructured devices demonstrate the benefits of enhancing charge collection and improving light absorption simultaneously, due to their unique geometry.…”

Precision synthesis of silicon nanowires with crystalline core and amorphous shell

“…TEM showed the presence of Sn particles on the tips of wires confirming the decomposition of Sn(HMDS) 2 into Sn seed particles. Excess hydrogen produced from trisilane decomposition at high Si : Sn ratios was found to dissolve away the Sn seed particle during synthesis, leading in part to the formation of crystalline-amorphous core-shell Si nanowires.…”